and Ross Valley Nursery
Rare. In the Opuntioideae Subfamily, similar to some of the South American chollas, with glochids and easily separated ovate stem sections.
Grows low to the ground with stems partly buried. Can form large clusters 2 to 3 stems tall though they break off easily. Large feathery yellow flowers. Brownish-orange glochids.
Slow growing with large green fronds. Easy to grow indoor or outdoor. Poisonous if ingested, including people and pets.
Shrubby – can grow anywhere from 3 to 10ft. tall. Red flowers.
Opuntia bigelovi
Mojave and Sonora Deserts. Classic golden-spined Jumping Cholla. Slow growing.
Opuntia fulgida
Medium height tree cholla, 3′-6’h.; 1″ pink flowers in summer sun
A branched monstrose cholla that will often form crests. The new growth is bronze and fades to grey-green as it ages. It uncommonly produces magenta flowers. Prone to rot if wet and cold. Prone to rot if wet and cold.
Opuntia imbricata
Shrubby tree cholla found throughout the SW and lower Great Plains. Can grow to 10ft. tall. Magenta flowers.
Grows in the limestone flats of the Chihuahuan desert. Low spine cactus, shrubby, can form woody trunks. Will grow 3 to 4 ft tall, can spread wide.
Opuntia leptocaulis
Bushy cholla to 6ft. tall; Narrow stems, long thin spines.
Opuntia prolifera
Shrubby California coastal native cholla; 3ft. to 8ft. tall
Compact, tree-like cholla to 6 feet tall and wide. Purple flowers. Grows in dry grasslands. The dried wood caness make for good long straight walking sticks.
Red spines fade to grey as they age.
Opuntia whipplei
Medium shrubby cholla to 3ft., can grow low and sprawl.
Sarcostemma insigne
Pendant “stick” plant, minimal leaves. Striped flowers.
Small groups of vertical stems, looking like melted wax. Keep warm and dry. Readily branching.
Pendant or climbing leafless “stick” plant to 6ft long. Thick green stems, yellowish-white flowers.
Caudiciform with soft leaves along extensive vines. Small yellow flowers. Vines can travel up to 15ft., caudex gets to 12″ across. Can be grown from cuttings.
Vining caudiciform will form huge 6ft caudex, underground in habitat. Vines can reach 20ft. Keep dry in winter.
Giant caudex to 6ft w/thick branches at top, peeling bark. Small berries on tall stems rise above the leaves. Deciduous in winter.
Small bulbs in the Amaryllis family. Pendant yellow flowers. Grows in marshes, can be dry when dormant. Heat-tolerant if soil is kept moist.
Short trunk eventually to 5ft. x 6ft., White blooms
4-6ft. x 4-6ft. Radial, stiff narrow leaves on short trunk.
Light green leaves, a short trunk and 12ft. bloom spike.
6 to 8ft. w/concave serrated leaves on short trunk.
Grows in dense thickets. Small leaves, do not persist. Avoid frost. Can form trees to 20ft in habitat. More water when hot in summer, keep dry in winter.
2″ flowers orange with red, pink, white. Mat-forming.